A new gaming PC handheld is on the way, the Zotac Zone and its release date isn’t too far away at all. The device has officially been launched with pre-orders now available in select regions. We recently called the Zotac Zone the next big competitor for the Steam Deck OLED, but when will it come out? Here we’ll explain everything you need to know about this new device regarding the launch date, as well as a look at the specs and price.
There have been many new handhelds hitting the market as of late, but we’d have to say that the Steam Deck is still on top for many people. The Zone is another attempt to capitalize on the popularity of this form factor and provides an interesting alternative to what’s already on the market, especially with its OLED screen.
Zotac Zone pre order now available in select regions
According to Zotac’s recent press release on the Zone gaming handheld, “The ZOTAC GAMING ZONE ZGC-G1A1W-01 is ready for pre-order now on exclusive e-tailer platforms in select regions”. In addition, each unit comes bundled with one free month of Xbox Game Pass Trial.
Top 5 Cyber Monday deals
This year's Cyber Monday has officially kickstarted, offering up huge discounts on some of the market's leading tech products. Below, we'll list the best Cyber Monday deals we can find.
- Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED Curved gaming monitor - WAS $1,599.99 NOW $949.99 Save - $350
- LG C3 Series 65-Inch Class OLED - WAS $1,499.99 NOW $1,196.99 Save - $70
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 6-Core - WAS $299.99 NOW $186.97 Save - $330
- Beats Stuydio Buds - WAS $178 NOW $99 Save - $300
- Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth 5.1 Headphones - WAS $349 NOW $199 Save - $150
Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices.
We’ve done a bit of searching online and have yet to find the device available to buy in regions such as the US, but here are a few expected retailers to keep an eye on, as listed on Zotac’s official website. But in European countries, we have found a few listings and pre orders available, so if you’re living there and keen on the handheld, you can already place your order.
Where to buy Zotac Zone US – expected retailers
Where to buy Zotac Zone UK – pre orders live
Where to buy Zotac Zone Poland – pre orders live
Where to buy Zotac Zone Germany – pre orders live
Zotac Zone release date window rumored
From what we know so far, Zotac has plans to release the Zone gaming handheld in September 2024. This date has been reported by several outlets, including Videocardz, though Zotac itself has yet to announce an exact date. Ever since it was first teased, we’ve been looking forward to any news about it – and plenty more was revealed in the run-up to and during Computex this year. Furthermore, Zotac will be showing off the device at Gamescom 2024, which takes place between August 21st – 25th, with the full release date likely soon after.
Zotac Zone at Scan, Image by PC Guide
Zotac Zone at Caseking, Image by PC Guide
Zotac Zone at X-Kom, Image by PC Guide
Zotac Zone at Overclockers, Image by PC Guide
Although it has been shown off in full and put up for pre order, there is not a set date. From the pages we’ve found, there are just two that offer a potential time when you can pick up the handheld or it’s sent out. As X-Kom has a definitive be the first to pick up from the 23rd of September (although it says sent from that day, so either it is sent or available from that date). The other is Caseking who says there is an expected restock of the Zone on the 12th of September. Which bolsters the right month, but clearly the specific day is still fluid.
So, with the Zone soon on its way, it will finally provide us with another OLED display handheld – which is what we’d say is the biggest selling point up against some of its other Windows-based competitors such as the ASUS ROG Ally and MSI Claw, both of which are getting updated models in the Ally X (now released) and MSI Claw 8 AI+.
Zotac Zone specs revealed
Even ahead of Computex, where a production model of the Zone was previewed, the specs were leaked. You can take a closer look at the device on the Zotac website, which confirms a few things, but there are some more in-depth specs already out there to take a look at. See the table below for all the details of what we know so far.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Architecture | AMD Zen 4 & RDNA 3 |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 8840U APU |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon 780M graphics (15W default, 28W max) |
| External GPU | USB4 |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5X-7500 |
| Storage | 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD (2280) |
| Display | 7-inch native portrait AMOLED Multi-Touch Display, up to 800 nits, 1M:1 contrast ratio, HDR ready |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz |
| Joystick/Buttons | Hall Effect Joystick and Triggers, 2-stage Adjustable Triggers, Radial Dial, Dual Trackpads |
| Connectivity | UHS-II microSD slot, USB4 ports |
| Battery | Li-ion battery (48.5Wh), estimated 1.25 hours runtime |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Dimensions | 31 x 13.5 x 4 cm |
| Weight | Less than 700g |
By looking at the Zone below, we can see that it quite closely resembles the Steam Deck, especially with the dual trackpad design which is missing on some other comparable handhelds. However, like most other recent entries to the market, the Zone will be using Windows 11 instead of Steam’s very own Linux-based SteamOS.
Zotac Zone price
Now that the Zotac Zone has launched, we can see where the price falls. According to Wccftech, it launches at $799 in the US which puts it on the pricier end of the spectrum and at the same cost as the new ROG Ally X.
The pre orders give us the price of the handheld in their respective countries as well. In the UK it is available for 849GBP (~897USD with a -20% VAT), in Poland its 3,899PLN (~788USD with -23% VAT), and in Germany its 849EUR (~770USD with -19% VAT). These are quick exchanges and VAT numbers but apart from the UK one does sit around that 800 USD mark.
Given the high price, we think the Zone could be a tough sell to many people, with the OLED screen perhaps being one of the main reasons for its high price. Considering that newer Ryzen AI APUs will be around by the time the Zone launches, it may see the same fate as the underwhelming MSI Claw.
Will the Zotac Zone be cheaper than the Steam Deck OLED?
Based on what we know right now, no, the Zotac Zone will be considerably more expensive than the Steam Deck OLED. Valve’s OLED handheld is currently available from $549 for the 512GB model, whereas the Zone is currently slated to cost $799; also featuring 512GB storage.
Does the Zotac Zone have a variable refresh rate?
According to Videocardz, it has been revealed that the Zone does not feature a variable refresh rate. This is due to using a MIPI display. Variable refresh rate, often shorted to VRR, helps sync the refresh rate (measured in Hz) to your in-game framerate (FPS) for a more stable and stutter-free or screen-tear-free experience. This feature has been well-received on the ROG Ally, while other handhelds are lacking in this department, now including the Zotac Zone.
